Mark Hochstrasser

Mark Hochstrasser is the Eugene Higgins Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale School of Medicine, with joint appointments in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale Cancer Center, and Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program. He joined Yale in 2000 after completing his B.A. at Rutgers University, Ph.D. at UCSF, and postdoctoral research at MIT.

His research focuses on fundamental regulatory systems in eukaryotic cells, particularly the ubiquitin system and related modification pathways. Major research areas include:

• Mechanisms of targeted protein degradation via ubiquitin-proteasome pathways
• Function and dynamics of SUMO and other ubiquitin-like protein modifications
• Proteasome assembly and regulation
• Molecular mechanisms of endosymbiotic bacteria (Wolbachia, Orientia) that manipulate host cells

Publication analysis reveals consistent focus on protein modification systems, with recent work emphasizing proteasome biophysics, cellular aging pathways, and host-pathogen interactions involving bacterial deubiquitinating enzymes. Earlier work established foundations in ubiquitin ligase mechanisms and SUMO protease functions.

Honors include:

• Young Investigator Award from Cancer Research Foundation
• Searle Scholar and Fletcher Scholar distinctions
• Elected Fellow of American Academy of Arts & Sciences
• Elected Fellow of AAAS
• Elected Fellow of Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering

He leads the Hochstrasser Lab, directing research on ubiquitin system mechanisms using yeast and other model systems. The lab maintains collaborations across Yale departments and has contributed to understanding fundamental cellular processes with medical relevance.